The crisis in Air India has deepened with the airline management sacking 25 more pilots and asking the Director General, Civil Aviation, to cancel licences of 11 dismissed office bearers of the Indian Pilots Guild after over 200 striking pilots refused to return to work.

The total number of pilots who have been dismissed since their agitation started on Tuesday has gone up to 71.

In a statement issued in New Delhi on Friday, Air India said it was charting out a contingency plan for its international operations. The airline cancelled 23 international and domestic flights on Friday.

The Indian Pilots Guild has, however, approached the Government for talks after the Supreme Court refused to initiate contempt proceedings against them and instead asked the airline to talk to the striking pilots.

A spokesman of the Indian Pilots Guild, which is spearheading the agitation, said the guild had sought time to hold talks with Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh.

The Government has offered to talk to the pilots but said they must return to work first.